Bio

The Jenny Johnson Band crafted their American roots, Midwestern sound on boardwalks, around kitchen tables, and in between jobs within the Southern Illinois hills. The group’s friendly and good-natured approach with audiences and each other goes beyond the stage. With three albums recorded and hundreds of shows played throughout the Heartland, Jenny writes music that reminds us that there are heroes in our neighborhood with stories worth telling. These songs allow her uniquely powerful and authentic vocal style pour through to envelop audiences. With youthful stage veterans, Alex Pape on accordion, Toby Merriman on fiddle, and Nate Graham on upright bass, the group shuffles out acoustic Americana tunes for the dancing crowd, lounges and lurks in the minor key swing, or slows down long enough to break your sweet heart.

"She’s broad and striking at times, but she also can sing with a nostalgic, almost hill-country lilt. At times, it’s the same fine Victrola warbling other Americana revivalists such as Pokey LaFarge have used to great effect.” Southeast Missourian

Jenny has created a style all her own through an amalgam of bluegrass, soul, ragtime, jazz and folk music. In 2014 she released her debut solo album, Torch Ditties, recorded entirely at the Old Feed Store to include additional live tracks. The band filmed the pilot episode for a new PBS series showcasing Southern Illinois musicians entitled, Little Egypt Live, aired in the summer of 2015. Jenny has played festivals and concerts with the likes of Jason Isbell, Joan Jett, Marshall Tucker Band, Marshall Crenshaw, Cedric Burnside, Joseph Huber, Chucky Waggs, Chicago Farmer, Town Mountain, The Woodbox Gang and is featured on the Woodbox album, Glorious Scars and the Rural Kings album, Level Best.